
8
AMD Athlon
Processor Quick Reference FAQ
February 3, 2000
Installation of Your Operating System
—
What Hardware to Install
Q.
Are there any BIOS settings that I need to make
A.
In most BIOS
’
s, under a title like PNP/PCI Configuration, there is usually an option
like PNP OS Installed Yes/No. If you are running Windows 95 or Windows 98, this
option should be set to Yes or Enabled. If you are running Windows NT, this option
should be set to No or Disabled.
Q.
What hardware should I have in my computer when I am ready to load my
operating system
A.
We strongly recommend that you have no more than the following peripherals and
components installed at the time you load your operating system:
n
Processor and heatsink with fan
Case exhaust fan (if possible with your case)
Recommended memory module (use only one to start with)
VGA-capable graphics card
Hard drive
CD-ROM drive
Diskette Drive
Keyboard
Mouse
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
We recommend only these core components because if you can't get the operating
system to properly load and configure with these core components, you will have
more problems with other devices installed. Having a sound card, 3D graphics
accelerator, modem, or other devices would only confuse the diagnostic process.
After your operating system has been successfully loaded, make sure that you set
your video card up in generic VGA mode. Do not load your video card drivers until
you have loaded all motherboard drivers. You will need to load the following spe-
cific motherboard drivers before you should continue loading your additional
hardware and software:
n
AGP Miniport Driver, Version 4.45
(Windows 95 and Windows 98, not required for Windows NT)
IDE Bus Master Driver, Version 1.22
(For motherboards with the AMD-756
peripheral bus controller)
n
Once these two drivers are loaded, you will be ready to continue installing compo-
nents, software, and configuring your system. J ust be sure to reset your computer
system after loading each of these drivers for successful installation and configu-
ration.